Floating Support Update Bulletin…
Shaping the Future of Floating Support in Essex - Implementing the new Floating Support Services from April 2007 Welcome to the first in a series of regular information bulletins about the implementation of the new Floating Support service for vulnerable people at risk of homelessness. These bulletins will be one of a range of methods we will be using to update you on what is happening with Floating Support in Essex. In the last edition of the Supporting People (SP) newsletter SPIE, (issue no.9), we told you about the new service delivery model for Floating Support agreed by the SP Commissioning Body and the invitation to tender for the new services. As a result of the competitive tendering exercise we have awarded new contracts for the service to commence in April 2007. Our priority now is to ensure a smooth transition to the new services. Why are we changing Floating Support? – A quick reminder One of the key priorities of the SP 5 Year Strategy is to increase the provision of Floating Support in line with need and to move the balance of service provision away from accommodation-based services for both preventative and move-on services.
Floating Support is: A short term service for vulnerable people who are at risk of homelessness. An individually tailored service offered to people in their own homes, which will „float off‟ as and when the support is no longer required. An outcome focussed service which offers structured advice and support around housing related activities. A service to compliment and link in with other statutory and voluntary care and support services. Funded by the Essex SP Team and is a discretionary welfare function.
Our goal has been to increase and improve Floating Support so that it can make a significant contribution towards addressing the need for low level preventative services. This in turn will contribute towards ensuring that housing related support services are targeted to the County Council‟s wider programmes for promoting independence and social inclusion and individual Local Authorities Homelessness Strategies. We took the first step in achieving our goal through undertaking a Value Improvement Project (VIP). Our work to review and re-commission Floating Support was supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). Essex has been one of 11 projects taking part in an overall programme designed to secure substantial improvements in value for money by improving service quality and how authorities contract and manage services. 1
The new service delivery model for Floating Support is the result of an extensive review of our existing Floating Support services including research and consultation with Services Users, Providers and other Stakeholders.
How is Floating Support changing? Currently approximately 1570 people receive Floating Support in Essex. This is delivered through 66 individual services run by 23 Providers over the 12 districts, operating on a fixed capacity basis. Our review told us about lots of good practice which we have built on but that overall the current service is fragmented, it does not match need or cover all relevant client groups and access is not equitable throughout the county. Our research informed us that what was important to Service Users was the offer of service flexibility, continuity, choice and to be seen as a “whole” person with the service designed to meet their housing related support needs rather than to be seen or labelled as a person with specific or specialist needs. The new delivery model and specification for the service were designed to bring about these changes and ensure that the service is designed and delivered with a strong focus on the Service User. It also specified that coverage would be consistent across the county, tenure neutral and would improve accessibility for vulnerable people at risk of homelessness. Full details of the model are available on the SP website along with the project reports documenting the development of the model. This includes feedback from stakeholders. The website address is http://supportingpeople.essexcc.gov.uk
What is the new Floating Support Service Delivery Model? The key components of the model are: A gateway to provide access to the service and manage referrals. A holistic service to deliver short term Floating Support, where the number of support hours provided are flexible and allocated according to need. An immediate response service to supplement the holistic service in responding to urgent situations. Clear resettlement arrangements to enable a planned transition from supported housing to independent housing, ensuring continuity of support for the Service User. A specialist Floating Support service to women throughout the county who are escaping domestic violence and want to remain in independent accommodation.
The model will be delivered through three separate hourly-based contracts consisting of the gateway, holistic and immediate response components. There will be one contract for each of the three housing sub-regions as shown on the following map. There will be separate contracts to deliver Floating Support to women escaping domestic violence and resettlement services.
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What are the key benefits of the new service? Delivering the service in this way will bring with it a number of benefits including: Existing Service Users will continue to benefit from Floating Support with little disruption during the transition. A targeted service to meet need, with a clear route of entry into service regardless of where someone lives in the county. Appropriate and accurate referrals with a managed waiting list. Fair and equal access and prioritising of applications. The ability to respond to urgent situations and to provide continuity of support when people move on from supported housing. A holistic outcome focussed approach tailored to meeting an individual‟s needs with the capacity within the service to develop a wide range of skills and provide varying levels of support to meet peoples‟ specific needs. An expanded service through contracting on an hourly basis (as opposed to a fixed term capacity contracting), re-investment of efficiency savings and additional Supporting People development funding. Improved access to data around monitoring performance, identifying met and unmet need, improving access, planning service development and allocating future resources. A greater capacity for partnership working and integration.
Who will provide the new service? The Essex SP Team invited Providers to tender for one of the 3 holistic Floating Support contracts. The process was led by the County Council‟s Procurement Service and included a tender evaluation panel and a Service User evaluation panel with the combined scoring leading to contract award. The new contracts have been awarded to: Family Mosaic – Thames Gateway South East (Basildon, Rochford, Castle Point) In touch (working in partnership with Nacro Community Enterprises) – London Commuter Belt (Epping Forest, Uttlesford, Brentwood, Harlow, Chelmsford) Swan – Greater Haven Gateway (Colchester, Tendring, Maldon, Braintree)
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Where are we now? Since the award of contracts in September 2006 SP have been meeting with the three Providers to plan the transitional and implementation arrangements. This is a significant task which needs careful planning and organisation so that we are able to work together to ensure: A smooth transition takes place from the current Floating Support services to the new Floating Support service in April 2007 for Service Users, Providers, District partners, key stakeholders and the SP Team. From April 2007, Service Users experience a consistent and equitable service wherever they live in the county. To achieve this we are in the process of setting up the governance and organisational arrangements to manage the implementation. These include: An Implementation Board to oversee and manage the transition and implementation of the contracts. A Working Group to carry out and co-ordinate the detailed work on how the service will work in practice. A Service User Group to input and shape both the transitional arrangements and the development of the service. Three Local Delivery Teams, one in each of the three housing sub-regions to work directly with Districts, outgoing Providers and key stakeholders to input into and manage the transition in each area.
What happens next? The new Providers are in the process of making contact with the Districts and outgoing Providers in their areas to go through the detailed planning and begin the transitional arrangements. The plans will be discussed in detail at the next Core Strategy Development Group meeting.
How can I be involved? An awareness event is being held on 6th December 2006 at Shire Hall, Chelmsford. Details to follow. The Local Delivery Teams are being formed to deal with local implementation, which will feed into the implementation working group. All key stakeholders can be involved in this. Information bulletins including a Question & Answer section will be produced by SP on monthly basis up to April 2007 – if you have any questions or comments to be included in the bulletin, please contact Paul Morrison Service Review Officer (SRO).
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Contacts If you would like to speak to the Provider or SP reviewing officer in your area please contact:
Contact/Title Barbara Horne Operational Manager Family Mosaic Jo Grainger Service Review Officer Chas Walker Support Services Manager In Touch Paul Morrison Service Review Officer Shalene Guildford Floating Support Manager Swan Shelley Shickle Service Review Officer
Area Thames Gateway Thames Gateway London Commuter Belt London Commuter Belt Greater Haven Gateway Greater Haven Gateway
Telephone 01268 498504 01245 437856 01273 766011
E-mail barbara.horne@familymosaic.co.uk
jo.grainger@essexcc.gov.uk charles.walker@intouchsupport.co.uk
07717867199 Paul.morrison@essexcc.gov.uk
01277 844723
sguildford@swan.org.uk
07717867500 Shelley.shickle@essexcc.gov.uk
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